Air blowing structure for vehicle air conditioning

ABSTRACT

An air blowing structure for vehicle air conditioning is provided in a cylindrical body having an inlet opening in a cabin. The air blowing structure includes a rotary member and fins. The rotary member is rotatably supported on an inner surface of the cylindrical body. Each fin has two flat surfaces facing in a rotating direction of the rotary member. Each fin has a base end connected to an outer peripheral portion of the rotary member. The fins radially extend toward the inlet. The fins are connected to the outer peripheral portion of the rotary member in a tiltable manner in the rotating direction of the rotary member. Slide shafts project from leading ends of side portions of the fins. Slide shafts are slidably engaged with slide grooves extending in the inner surface of the cylindrical body along the side portions of the fins.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 to Japanese Patent Application No. 2009-293840, filed in the Japan Patent Office on Dec. 25, 2009, entitled “Air Blowing Structure for Vehicle Air Conditioning”, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an air blowing structure for vehicle air conditioning.

2. Description of the Related Art

An air blowing structure for vehicle air conditioning provided in a cylindrical body that includes an inlet opening in a vehicle cabin and that communicates with a duct extending from an air conditioning unit of a vehicle is known. In the air blowing structure, a plurality of fins are arranged in parallel at the inlet, and the fins are interlocked when adjusting the orientations of surfaces of the fins so as to set an air blowing direction (see, for example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2002-337544).

In the above-described air blowing structure for vehicle air conditioning of the related art, a plurality of fins are arranged in parallel, and air passing between the fins is blown out in one direction from the inlet. Hence, the air blowing range is narrow.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to one aspect of the present invention, an air blowing structure for vehicle air conditioning is provided in a cylindrical body that has an inlet opening in a cabin of a vehicle. The cylindrical body communicates with a duct extending from an air conditioning unit of the vehicle. The air blowing structure includes a rotary member and a plurality of fins. The rotary member is rotatably supported on an inner surface of the cylindrical body. The plurality of fins each have two flat surfaces facing in a rotating direction of the rotary member. The plurality of fins each have a base end connected to an outer peripheral portion of the rotary member. The plurality of fins radially extend toward the inlet. The plurality of fins are connected to the outer peripheral portion of the rotary member in a manner such as to be tiltable in the rotating direction of the rotary member.

Slide shafts project from leading ends of side portions of the plurality of fins. Slide shafts are slidably engaged with slide grooves extending in the inner surface of the cylindrical body along the side portions of the plurality of fins.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A more complete appreciation of the invention and many of the attendant advantages thereof will be readily obtained as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an instrument panel including an air blowing structure for vehicle air conditioning according to an embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the air blowing structure;

FIG. 3 is a side view illustrating a state in which fins are completely opened in the air blowing structure;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a fin in the air blowing structure;

FIG. 5 is a side view illustrating a state in which the fins are opened upward in the air blowing structure;

FIG. 6 is a side view illustrating a state in which the fins overlap in an upward pointing manner in the air blowing structure;

FIG. 7 is a side view illustrating a state in which the fins overlap in a downward pointing manner in the air blowing structure; and

FIG. 8A illustrates the tilting angle of the fins in the air blowing structure, and FIG. 8B illustrates a state in which the adjacent fins overlap with each other.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

The embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with appropriate reference to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals designate corresponding or identical elements throughout the various drawings.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, an air blowing structure for vehicle air conditioning 1 according to the embodiment serves to set air blowing directions from inlets 2 a provided at the center and right and left sides of a vehicle instrument panel P and opening and closing states of the inlets 2 a. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the air blowing structure 1 is provided in a cylindrical body 2 having the inlet 2 a.

As illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, a ventilation passage of rectangular cross section is provided in the cylindrical body 2. The inlet 2 a opening in a surface of the instrument panel (not shown) is provided at one end of the ventilation passage, and the other end of the ventilation passage is fitted in an open end portion of a duct 3 that extends from an air conditioning unit (not shown) provided in the vehicle, so that the cylindrical body 2 is connected to the duct 3. Air is supplied from the air conditioning unit into the cylindrical body 2 through the duct 3.

An inner space at an end of the cylindrical body 2 at a side of the inlet 2 a is wider than an inner space at a side of the air conditioning unit, and a step portion 2 c is provided between the inner spaces.

The air blowing structure for vehicle air conditioning 1 includes a rotary member 10 rotatably supported on right and left inner side faces 2 b of the cylindrical body 2, and a plurality of fins 20 connected to an outer peripheral portion of the rotary member 10. In the air blowing structure 1, the air blowing direction can be set and the inlet 2 a can be opened and closed by changing the angle of the fins 20.

As illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, the rotary member 10 is disk-shaped in side view, and rotation shafts 11 project in the right-left direction from the centers of the right and left surfaces of the rotary member 10.

Ends of the right and left rotation shafts 11 are rotatably supported by the right and left inner side faces 2 b of the cylindrical body 2 at positions shifted from the step portion 2 c of the cylindrical body 2 toward the air conditioning unit. Therefore, part of the outer peripheral portion of the rotary member 10 is located closer to the inlet 2 a than the step portion 2 c in the cylindrical body 2.

A plurality of connecting portions 12 to which base ends of the fins 20, which will be described below, are connected project from a half of the outer peripheral portion of the rotary member 10 close to the inlet 2 a, and are arranged radially with respect to the rotation center of the rotary member 10.

As illustrated in FIG. 4, each connecting portion 12 is shaped like a plate. Both flat surfaces of the connecting portion 12 face in the rotating direction (circumferential direction) of the rotary member 10, and a base end portion thereof is fixed to the outer peripheral portion of the rotary member 10.

A tilting shaft 12 a extending in the right-left direction is inserted in a leading end of the connecting portion 12, and right and left ends of the tilting shaft 12 a project from right and left sides of the connecting portion 12.

As illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, a groove portion 13 that is concave in side view is provided in an upper half of the outer peripheral portion of the rotary member 10 at the air conditioning unit side, and extends in the rotating direction (circumferential direction) of the rotary member 10. Both side faces of the groove portion 13 in the rotating direction serve as contact portions 13 a that a stopper 40, which will be described below, is to contact. That is, the rotary member 10 is provided with two contact portions 13 a spaced in the rotating direction.

As illustrated in FIG. 4, each fin 20 is a plate-shaped rectangular member having both flat surfaces 21 that face in the rotating direction (circumferential direction) of the rotary member 10. The long sides of the fin 20 extend in the right-left direction.

A cutout portion 22 in which the leading end of the connecting portion 12 of the rotary member 10 is inserted is provided at the center of the base end portion of the fin 20. In right and left side faces of the cutout portion 22, both ends of the tilting shaft 12 a projecting from the right and left sides of the connecting portion 12 are inserted rotatably. In this way, the base end portion of the fin 20 is connected to the connecting portion 12 provided in the outer peripheral portion of the rotary member 10 in a manner such as to be tiltable in the rotating direction (circumferential direction) of the rotary member 10.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, the fins 20 are connected to the respective connecting portions 12 provided in the outer peripheral portion of the rotary member 10. The fins 20 are arranged radially with respect to the rotation center of the rotary member 10, and extend toward the arc-shaped inlet 2 a. Further, the fins 20 are located closer to the inlet 2 a than the step portion 2 c of the cylindrical body 2.

As illustrated in FIG. 8A, tilting angles A and B at which the fins 20 tilts to one side and the other side in the rotating direction of the rotary member 10 are set to be less than 90 degrees. By thus setting the tilting angles A and B of the fins 20 to be less than 90 degrees, when the fins 20 are tilted, the surface 21 of one of the adjacent fins 20 can overlap with the base end portion of the other fin 20, whereby the spaces between the fins 20 can be closed.

Further, an operation knob 26 is attached to the center one of the fins 20 in the up-down direction. A base end of the operation knob 26 is attached to the widthwise center of a leading end of the fin 20. A leading end of the operation knob 26 is shaped like a plate having flat surfaces facing in the up-down direction, and protrudes from the inlet 2 a toward the vehicle cabin.

Slide shafts 23 of circular cross section project in the right-left direction from the right and left sides of each fin 20 at the leading end side.

In addition, projecting portions 24 extend in the right-left direction at the base ends of the surfaces 21 of the fin 20. The thickness of the base end of the fin 20 is reduced so that angular portions 25 extending in the right-left direction are defined by steps formed between the projecting portions 24 and the base end. These angular portions 25 are lower than the projecting portions 24.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, slide grooves 30 are provided in the right and left inner side faces 2 b of the cylindrical body 2, and extend through right and left walls of the cylindrical body 2.

As illustrated in FIG. 4, when each fin 20 is linearly aligned with the corresponding connecting portion 12, the slide grooves 30 extend along the right and left sides of the fin 20. Therefore, as illustrated in FIG. 2, a plurality of slide grooves 30 are provided in the inner side faces 2 b of the cylindrical body 2 in correspondence to the sides of the fins 20. That is, a plurality of slide grooves 30 are arranged radially with respect to the rotation center of the rotary member 10.

As illustrated in FIG. 4, the slide shafts 23 provided on the right and left sides of each fin 20 are inserted in the slide grooves 30, so that the slide shafts 23 can rotate and slide in the extending direction of the slide grooves 30.

In a state in which the fin 20 is linearly aligned with the connecting portion 12, the slide shafts 23 are located at outer ends of the slide grooves 30 in the extending direction.

In the above-described air blowing structure for vehicle air conditioning 1, in a state in which the fins 20 are linearly aligned with the connecting portions 12, as illustrated in FIG. 3, when the leading end of the operation knob 26 is pushed upward to move the base end of the corresponding fin 20, whereby the base end of the fin 20 pivots downward on the slide shafts 23. Thus, the rotary member 10 rotates counterclockwise in FIG. 3, and the base ends of the fins 20 move in the rotating direction (downward), as illustrated in FIG. 5.

With the downward movement of the base ends of the fins 20, the slide shafts 23 provided on the sides of the fins 20 slide toward the outer peripheral portion of the rotary member 10 while rotating on the axis thereof.

Consequently, the fins 20 tilt upward with respect to the connecting portions 12 of the rotary member 10. When rotation of the rotary member 10 is further continued, the fins 20 overlap with one another and the spaces between the fins 20 are closed, as illustrated in FIG. 6.

In this case, the leading end of the uppermost fin 20 comes into contact with the step portion 2 c of the cylindrical body 2, and the connecting portion 12 to which the lowermost fin 20 is connected also comes into contact with the step portion 2 c, so that the interior of the cylindrical body 2 is closed by the fins 20.

While the adjacent fins 20 overlap with each other, as illustrated in FIG. 8B, the base end, the angular portion 25, and the projecting portion 24 of one (upper) of the fins 20 are in contact with the surface 21 of the other (lower) fin 20.

In the above-described air blowing structure for vehicle air conditioning 1, when the leading end of the operation knob 26 is pushed down to move the leading end of the corresponding fin 20 downward from the state illustrated in FIG. 3, the base end of the fin 20 pivots upward on the slide shafts 23. Thus, the rotary member 10 rotates clockwise in FIG. 3, and the fins 20 tilt in a direction opposite the direction in which the fins 20 tilt when the rotary member 10 rotates counterclockwise, as illustrated in FIG. 3 (the state illustrated in FIG. 5). That is, as illustrated in FIG. 7, the fins 20 tilt downward with respect to the connecting portions 12.

As illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, a stopper 40 fixed to the right and left inner side faces 2 b of the cylindrical body 2 is provided in the groove portion 13 of the rotary member 10.

The stopper 40 is an angular U-shaped member having a recess 41 that clamps the outer peripheral portion of the rotary member 10 from the right and left sides. Leading ends of fixed shafts 42 projecting from right and left side faces of the stopper 40 are fixed to the right and left inner side faces 2 b of the cylindrical body 2.

When the rotary member 10 is rotated, the contact portions 13 a of the groove portion 13 come into contact with the stopper 40, whereby the stopper 40 regulates the rotation of the rotary member 10.

When the rotary member 10 is rotated counterclockwise so that the fins 20 tilt upward and overlap with one another, as illustrated in FIG. 6, the contact portion 13 a on the rear side (right side in FIG. 6) of the groove portion 13 in the rotating direction comes into contact with the stopper 40.

In contrast, when the rotary member 10 is rotated clockwise so that the fins 20 tilt downward and overlap with one another, as illustrated in FIG. 7, the contact portion 13 a on the front side (left side in FIG. 7) of the groove portion 13 in the rotating direction comes into contact with the stopper 40.

In the above-described air blowing structure for vehicle air conditioning 1, as illustrated in FIG. 3, air passing between the fins 20 is radially blown out from the inlet 2 a, and therefore, the air blowing range can be enlarged.

Further, by rotating the rotary member 10, as illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7, the fins 20 are interlocked to tilt so as to change the air blowing direction, and the fins 20 can be overlapped with one another. In addition, the fins 20 can be tilted in two directions according to the rotating direction of the rotary member 10.

Therefore, in the air blowing structure for vehicle air conditioning 1 of the embodiment, the air blowing range can be enlarged with a simple structure having a reduced number of components, and setting of the air blowing direction and opening and closing of the fins 20 can be performed easily.

As illustrated in FIG. 8A, since the angle at which the fins 20 tilt to one side and the other side in the rotating direction of the rotary member 10 is set to be less than 90 degrees, when the fins 20 are tilted, the adjacent fins 20 can overlap with each other. Hence, the spaces between the fins 20 can be closed reliably.

As illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7, when the rotary member 10 is rotated and the fins 20 overlap with one another, the contact portion 13 a comes into contact with the stopper 40. This regulates the rotation of the rotary member 10. Hence, it is possible to prevent a great force from acting on the fins 20 when the spaces between the fins 20 are closed.

As illustrated in FIG. 8B, when the adjacent fins 20 overlap, the base end, the angular portion 25, and the projecting portion 24 of one of the fins 20 come into contact with the surface 21 of the other fin 20. This can stabilizes the fins 20 when the space between the fins 20 is closed.

While the embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to the embodiment, and various modifications are possible without departing from the scope of the invention.

For example, while the rotation shafts 11 provided on the right and left side faces of the rotary member 10 are rotatably supported on the right and left inner side faces 2 b of the cylindrical body 2 in the air blowing structure for vehicle air conditioning 1, as illustrated in FIG. 2, both surfaces of the rotary member 10 may face in the up-down direction and rotation shafts 11 projecting in the up-down direction may be rotatably supported on the upper and lower inner side faces of the cylindrical body 2 so that the fins 20 are opened and closed in the lateral direction.

While the rotary member 10 is rotated by tilting the fins 20 through the operation of the operation knob 26 in the air blowing structure for vehicle air conditioning 1 of the embodiment, the rotary member 10 can be rotated by rotating the rotation shafts 11 by the use of an operation member, such as a dial or a lever, which is provided on the surface of the instrument panel and is connected to the leading ends of the rotation shafts 11. Further alternatively, the rotary member 10 can be rotated by driving a motor, which is attached to the leading ends of the rotation shafts 11, by the use of a switch provided on the instrument panel.

While rotation of the rotary member 10 is regulated by the contact of the contact portions 13 a in the outer peripheral portion of the rotary member 10 with the stopper 40 in the air blowing structure for vehicle air conditioning 1 of the embodiment, the positions of the stopper 40 and the contact portions 13 a are not particularly limited. For example, contact portions may be provided on the rotation shafts 11, and a stopper may be provided around the rotation shafts 11.

While the air blowing structure for vehicle air conditioning 1 of the embodiment is provided in the cylindrical body 2 that is connected to the open end 3 a of the duct 3, as illustrated in FIG. 3, the duct 3 may be combined with the cylindrical body 2 so that the air blowing structure for vehicle air conditioning 1 of the embodiment may be provided in the cylindrical body 2 that forms a part of the duct 3.

According to the embodiment of the invention, air passing between the fins is radially blown out from the inlet, and therefore, the air blowing range can be enlarged.

When the rotary member is rotated, the base ends of the fins move in the rotating direction, and the slide shafts projecting from the side portions of the fins slide in the slide grooves of the cylindrical body toward the outer peripheral portion of the rotary member, whereby the fins tilt relative to the outer peripheral portion of the rotary member. By thus rotating the rotary member, the fins are interlocked to tilt so as to change the air blowing direction, and the fins overlap with one another. Moreover, the fins can be tilted in two directions according to the rotating direction of the rotary member.

Therefore, according to the air blowing structure for vehicle air conditioning of the embodiment of the present invention, the air blowing range can be enlarged with a simple structure having a reduced number of components, and setting of the air blowing direction and opening and closing of the fins can be performed easily.

Preferably, an angle at which the fins tilt to one side or the other side in the rotating direction of the rotary member is less than 90 degrees. In this case, when the fins are tilted, the adjacent fins can overlap with each other. This allows the space between the fins to be closed reliably.

Preferably, two contact portions spaced in the rotating direction of the rotary member are provided in the outer peripheral portion of the rotary member, and a stopper attached to the inner surface of the cylindrical body is provided between the contact portions.

With this structure, when the rotary member is rotated, the contact portion comes into contact with the stopper, whereby the rotation of the rotary member is regulated. Therefore, by bringing the contact portion into contact with the stopper when the fins overlap, a great force is prevented from acting on the fins when the spaces between the fins are closed.

Preferably, each of the flat surfaces of the fins has a projecting portion. When the adjacent fins overlap with each other, the base end and the projecting portion of one of the adjacent fins come into contact with either of the flat surfaces of the other fins. This can stabilize the fins when the spaces between the fins are closed.

Obviously, numerous modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein. 

1. An air blowing structure for vehicle air conditioning provided in a cylindrical body that has an inlet opening in a cabin of a vehicle and that communicates with a duct extending from an air conditioning unit of the vehicle, the air blowing structure comprising: a rotary member rotatably supported on an inner surface of the cylindrical body; and a plurality of fins each having two flat surfaces facing in a rotating direction of the rotary member and having a base end connected to an outer peripheral portion of the rotary member, wherein the plurality of fins radially extend toward the inlet, wherein the plurality of fins are connected to the outer peripheral portion of the rotary member in a manner such as to be tiltable in the rotating direction of the rotary member, and wherein slide shafts project from leading ends of side portions of the plurality of fins, and are slidably engaged with slide grooves extending in the inner surface of the cylindrical body along the side portions of the plurality of fins.
 2. The air blowing structure for vehicle air conditioning according to claim 1, wherein an angle at which the plurality of fins tilt to one side or another side in the rotating direction of the rotary member is less than 90 degrees.
 3. The air blowing structure for vehicle air conditioning according to claim 1, wherein two contact portions spaced in the rotating direction of the rotary member are provided in the outer peripheral portion of the rotary member, and a stopper attached to the inner surface of the cylindrical body is provided between the contact portions.
 4. The air blowing structure for vehicle air conditioning according to claim 1, wherein each of the flat surfaces of the plurality of fins comprises a projecting portion, and wherein, when adjacent fins among the plurality of fins overlap with each other, the base end and the projecting portion of one of the adjacent fins come into contact with either of the flat surfaces of another fin of the adjacent fins.
 5. The air blowing structure for vehicle air conditioning according to claim 2, wherein two contact portions spaced in the rotating direction of the rotary member are provided in the outer peripheral portion of the rotary member, and a stopper attached to the inner surface of the cylindrical body is provided between the contact portions.
 6. The air blowing structure for vehicle air conditioning according to claim 2, wherein each of the flat surfaces of the plurality of fins comprises a projecting portion, and wherein, when adjacent fins among the plurality of fins overlap with each other, the base end and the projecting portion of one of the adjacent fins come into contact with either of the flat surfaces of another fin of the adjacent fins.
 7. The air blowing structure for vehicle air conditioning according to claim 3, wherein each of the flat surfaces of the plurality of fins comprises a projecting portion, and wherein, when adjacent fins among the plurality of fins overlap with each other, the base end and the projecting portion of one of the adjacent fins come into contact with either of the flat surfaces of another fin of the adjacent fins.
 8. The air blowing structure for vehicle air conditioning according to claim 5, wherein each of the flat surfaces of the plurality of fins comprises a projecting portion, and wherein, when adjacent fins among the plurality of fins overlap with each other, the base end and the projecting portion of one of the adjacent fins come into contact with either of the flat surfaces of another fin of the adjacent fins. 